If Bruce had been replaced by Billy in 1969, Sunflower would have been a quite different album.
Billy seems like such an all-around nice guy perhaps he would have been a good influence on everyone and reduced a lot of the intra-band strife of the '70s.  Or not. Who knows?

Bruce's role in the group is, was and always has been odd.  Bruce though considered a de facto "Beach Boy" since he joined has never, AFAIK, been a corporate member of "The Beach Boys."  Mike Love's book has a charming anecdote about how Carl was paying Bruce on a per-show basis in the early days, based a figure that Bruce requested (the punch line was something along the lines that Bruce meant $/per week or month but Carl thought he meant $/per show).  In effect, Bruce was always a hired hand in the Wilson-Love-Jardine business.    And, yet, starting with Summer Days, there's Bruce singing (and occasionally playing) on their albums.  And not just in a don't-blink-or-you-might-miss-him way.  Bruce's voice is clear as a bell on California Girls, God Only Knows, original Wonderful etc.  How was he paid for that, if at all?  I don't think I've ever seen a good explanation on that issue.  He wasn't getting a cut of the Capitol royalties like the rest of them as he wasn't part of that contract.  Did he get a separate Capitol contract? When they reorganized as Brother Records, Inc, in January 1967, it was a 5-way equal-shares partnership of the Wilsons, Love & Jardine.  They could have cut Bruce in at that point but didn't.  When they moved to Warner-Reprise, was he formally part of that deal?  His prominent role on Sunflower would suggest that maybe he was, but wasn't the deal between Brother and the label?   Of course, Bruce would still have been getting publishing royalties for the songs that he authored regardless of the fact that he wasn't a corporate member of The Beach Boys.  It's strange for him to have been a "hired hand" on and off now for 56 years.

I've always heard/read that Bruce previously sold his shares in BRI...

In 1993, when I was 14- I sent all of the Beach Boys fan letters, and Carl was the only one to respond. He sent me this:

Very cool.

Finally....A clip! 👍

https://youtu.be/ONE4xpSgPsQ

Looks good to me. Can't wait.

Regarding Denny's funeral, People magazine did a write-up in 1984..
http://www.cinetropic.com/blacktop/people/

At a 30-minute funeral service at an Inglewood, Calif. cemetery chapel three days after the drowning were his mother, Audree, the band members and close associates. And the women and children: Shawn, with whom Dennis had lived for almost three years; first wife Carol Freedman, 37, her son, Scott, 21, from a prior marriage, and her 16-year-old daughter, Jennifer, Dennis' oldest child; second wife Barbara Charren, 38, and their sons, Carl and Michael, 12 and 11; and Karen Lamm, who was married twice to Dennis during the late '70s.

By several accounts, the family was bitterly divided over the funeral and plans to bury Dennis at sea. The clan reportedly split into two factions, those allied with the Wilson family and those who fell into the Shawn Love Wilson camp, reflecting long-simmering rivalries within the Beach Boys themselves. At a family funeral conference, ex-wife Lamm reports, "I suggested playing Farewell My Friend [Dennis' 1977 song]. I also said I wanted to read a passage from Corinthians about unconditional love, which is what Dennis was all about. Shawn said, 'You can't read it.' She's not the nicest girl." Shawn and Jennifer wound up reading the text, and, with the backing of her mother, Shannon Jones, Shawn also had her way about the burial. Reportedly, when Dennis' brother Carl flew in from Colorado, he made plans to have Dennis buried in Inglewood Cemetery next to their father, Murray, who died in 1973. Shawn vetoed that plan, claiming that Dennis had told her he wanted to be buried at sea. Since the coroner would release the body only to Dennis' wife, the family had no choice but to accede to Shawn's demand.


I remember that Brian sided with Carl in opposing Shawn's burial-at-sea idea.  IIRC, Brian was still expressing unhappiness about it in an interview ~20 years later.

I believe it was the  Steven Gaines book that stated Shawn wanted "Every Breath You Take" played at the funeral and that it was Carl's suggestion that "Farewell My Friend" be played instead and that the family had a meeting about the funeral for which Carl had arranged a limo to pick up Shawn. At the meeting "Farewell My Friend" was played and everybody broke down.

The same goes for Matt, out of his way nice

Not a bad interview but they both look a little silly wearing the same clothes and those ridiculous sunglasses.

Say what you want about Brian, but Carl with beard and sunglasses rocks!

agreed. 

I can tell you that the falsetto on California Dreamin’ isn’t Bruce. That’s all though. I’m listening to it right now and I have no idea.

Once again, it's really important to specify which exact vocal one is talking about when trying to determine its singer - "the falsetto" will never accurately describe one part of a beach boys song, and definitely doesn't narrow it down on California Dreamin'. There are many many backing parts, lots of which are high. Which part are you looking for? Could you transcribe it?

The high part I was talking about was the near the end (though I think that same singer is probably doing the high part earlier in the song), near the "playout" section of whatever on wants to call it, the "on such a winter's daaaaayyyyyy" part, where it's a single voice (though I can't rule out that it's doubled I suppose without hearing the multis).

I was singling out that particular case because it's from a weird time where we don't have many studio recordings (certainly *released*) recordings, from late 1982, and it comes from a transition period in the live (and studio) band where Carl had returned, and Carl and Al were still doing some high parts, and where Brian was coming and going *just* prior to hooking back up with Landy, Bruce had been back for a few years, and also both Adrian Baker *and* Jeff Foskett were in the BB sphere at that time as well.

In some other cases where a particular source of a voicing isn't clear, we can narrow it down more by way of who could have possibly been in the studio. In 1982, the band was only sporadically tripping into the studio for rando sessions, and the touring band was in flux as well, and it was during a period where a Baker or Foskett may or may not have been invited to a studio session. On any given day in 1982, Brian and Dennis may or may not have been with the band.

Combine all of that with a high part in a song that is a relatively non-descript, from an era where BB group vocals started getting processed more on recordings and vocals could sometimes be less distinct and a bit more homogeneous in sound. It's an interesting, though somewhat inconsequential, bit of trivia.

YES--I have always wondered who that was.  Does not sound like Baker.  Sorry, but sounds too good to be him.  Sounds like Foskett, or even a 1985 or 86 Brian (like a Getcha Back Brian).  We know Al went back and recorded his lead later--could Brian have gone back and recorded a backing high vocal in 1986?

Can't recall ever seeing Carl wear anything Beach Boys related except their short live HOBO line at the 86 Super Bowl and during the 25th anniversary broadcast

Brief, but I've never seen this before.  the comments from youtube indicate the interview was in connection with the "Forrest Gump" soundtrack, which would explain Carl's Viet Nam comments and the park bench. The brothers discussing Sloop John B.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGOXPy0sGRo

Also, apparently Melinda has forgiven and forgotten, huh?

I was just about to mention this. I guess money and good ideas talk...

Not saying it’s related, and never really gave it a second thought until reading this thread, but many of M&B upcoming shows are down as ‘Mike Love and Bruce Johnston’s Beach Boys’. Not all, but many.

https://uinterview.com/news/the-beach-boys-announce-new-2021-concert-dates/

Ticketmaster still has The Beach Boys though.

That is a pretty major change. Let me rephrase that: a MAJOR change in protocol for billing these shows. The whole ball of wax up to now was billing these shows as simply "The Beach Boys", now that has changed.

Consider just how unrelated that really is when a major part of this deal announced publicly today involved branding and marketing the band and its name. If it truly is unrelated, the timing of it sure falls into place...

If I were a consumer who, let's say a year ago, purchased a ticket to see "The Beach Boys" for the exact same lineup as what will now possibly be billed as "Mike Love and Bruce Johnston’s Beach Boys", I guess I'd feel a little cheated. That's assuming that anyone in that scenario would care enough, but it's sort of like Mike FINALLY revealing (grudgingly or not) that his version of the band is not (and by logic, was in reality not, for most of 1998 to present) actually "The Beach Boys".

I'm sure there has to have been recent boardroom discussion of what constitutes brand confusion, and how this M&B "BBs" branding contributed to the decay and falling from Mount Rushmore, so to speak.

I half-jokingly wonder if people who purchased tickets to see "The Beach Boys" and only got the bait-and-swtich version of "Mike Love and Bruce Johnston’s Beach Boys" will be wanting any recourse if anyone retroactively feels cheated considering that only many years later finally truth in advertising may be happening.

I mean, I know that the BRI voters collectively allowed that brand name thing to happen for so long, I do have to wonder if they regret it at this point. I do hope this leads to the devaluing to correct course, but man it's such a self-inflicted wound and I can't fault the public if they have a WTF reaction, although few fans except us nerds may care enough to have such a reaction.

They were being billed as "Mike Love and Bruce Johnston's Beach Boys" at least as early as the scheduled July 4, 2020  show at the Hollywood Bowl

Why is nobody piling on Dean Torrence? Why does he get a free pass?

I think Pepe Aguilar has a good shot at taking this....

From the same concert, here is the patented loop de loop mic adjustment:

https://youtu.be/Y2ZXJpC3saQ?t=761

Warning: professional mic adjuster on closed course.  Do not attempt this at home.

Let's just pause for a moment and think about how the distance in time between Stars & Stripes and now is the same as Pet Sounds to "Problem Child".

You just blew my mind, Sir

Rocker, you could be right on both notes. I think Brian doubles Matt on some high parts in "You're Still A Mystery", recorded the previous year.

Always believed that was Carl and Matt

So taking two quotes form the above post...Stebbins says "sometimes its a one or two man firing squad", and ESQ says that in regard to archival releases "majority rules the day." So if Mike alone cannot stop an archival release, are we left to believe that Carl's estate also does not want this released? That doesn't make sense, but logically, who is the other "no" vote?

"Sloop John B." on Stars & Stripes is just one of the few times, as I remember, that you can actually hear a steel guitar prominently on the album.

It's strange that they didn't have Yoakam on the album. It seems like in the 90s he was on every tribute-album I saw. I remember him doing a very cool "Mystery train" on an Elvis tribute in '94.


I wonder, are there actually some interesting or worthwhile Beach Boys covers by Country artists?



BTW I just saw that there was a music video made for James House's "Little Deuce Coupe", part of the scenes were on the Nashville Sounds doc. And it is as cringeworthy as you would expect. Almost like a bad parody. Think "Hot fun in the summertime" without Stamos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNbpPH416Bg





If we'll talk more about the album and all that stuff, I thought I'd compile a couple of links to music videos, performances etc. that have to do with the project. See this as a bonus section to the Nashville Sounds DVD.
Unfortunately I couldn't find Al's accoustic "California Saga" on youtube, which was allegedly a demo for Merle Haggard.



James House & The Beach Boys - Little Deuce Coupe (music video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNbpPH416Bg



The Beach Boys & James House - Little Deuce Coupe (live performance on Prime Time Country)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0vg3p4U3jE



The Beach Boys & James House - Little Deuce Coupe (live on Letterman)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe577Ff6Lqc



The Beach Boys & Sawyer Brown - I Get Around (live performance)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GefVO9vN1oY



The Beach Boys & Toby Keith - Be True to Your School (live on Prime Time Country)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUpNlXW-TQs



The Beach Boys with Kathy Troccoli (live on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n79x5h-bWQ



The Beach Boys with Shelby Lynn, James House, Willie Nelson and Neil Young (Farm Aid 1996)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E-rArXfC68



The Beach Boys - California Girls (live on Prime Time Country)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V791W96hMD8



The Beach Boys - Barbara Ann (live on Prime Time Country)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0CW7fosjy4



Tammy Wynette & Brian Wilson - In My Room (from Tammy Wynette tribute album "Remembered")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6B0hGjSgzA



Bonus tracks:


The Beach Boys & Collin Raye - Winter Wonderland (1996 ?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa3NmE_XZgQ



Brian Wilson & Willie Nelson - The Warmth of the Sun (Live at Farm Aid 1998)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XJZ5_sun-s



Al & Matt Jardine - Papa loved Mama (from Garth Brooks tribute album "New friend in low places" - from ca. 1999)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twAqwWh_CdQ


Al Jardine & Timothy B Schmidt - On the Kingston Trio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1517Ggi3nY



Hope I didn't forget anything.

The shame of that whole thing is, if you just listen to some of those backing vocals, you can imagine what  they could have produced on their own during that time.  For instance, that Collin Raye "Winter Wonderland"--the Beach Boys' backing vocals are amazing.  Just stunning. Unfortunately that's all we got out of that period, backing vocals we have to put through a  strainer to enjoy.

Ok, I was actually at that concert.  Brian's actual appearance on stage was brutal. BRUTAL. Physically he looked good, yes. But Landy was using him like a trained Bear.  The audience couldn't understand a word he was singing (this was all dubbed in post production) and his strutting?  As a Beach Boys and Brian hard-core fan, I was really embarrassed and hard pressed to explain it to the casual fans in my group.  They didn't know WHAT was going on.

Correct.  He also performed "Country Feelins"--bad idea.

There's an audience recording of the show floating around somewhere, and I recall that Brian really butchers "In My Car" in particular. What we see/hear on the TV show seems to be a mixture of pre-recorded studio elements, and then some if not most or all of Brian's live vocal replaced with a re-record.

Brian did that little mini solo set at some some shows in 1989. Truly bizarre. They get Brian back for shows, but apart from a few things ("Surfer Girl"), they literally segregate, with the band doing most of their set without Brian, and then Brian doing his set without the band (with some of the backing guys staying on stage).

How could you say hopes are dashed?

They honored their 50th in 2012, so wouldn't it make sense to honor their 60th in 2022?

No.  What would make sense is to do it before somebody (else) dies.

Ok, I was actually at that concert.  Brian's actual appearance on stage was brutal. BRUTAL. Physically he looked good, yes. But Landy was using him like a trained Bear.  The audience couldn't understand a word he was singing (this was all dubbed in post production) and his strutting?  As a Beach Boys and Brian hard-core fan, I was really embarrassed and hard pressed to explain it to the casual fans in my group.  They didn't know WHAT was going on.

Only really listen to "409" and "Long Tall Texan"...


I love Dwight, but not sure about this :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md09xy8ffX8

(Not on Stars & Stripes)

Ok, I'm not  a country fan by any means but I think that sounds pretty good as covers go, and certainly better than anything on S&S

** also is the opening part SUPPOSED to sound like kokomo- cause it totally does

What specific song are you referring to?

I think KTSA is a decent record, and has some actual nice songs on it (“Some of Your Love”, “Sunshine”, “When Girls Get Together”), but I do not like the song “Endless Harmony” - it doesn’t sound like an authentic BB track to me.

See I’m the kind of guy who thinks “Johnny Carson, he’s a real live wire” is a great lyric, but “and we sang God Bless America / it’s the land where we tour” makes me cringe.

You can't compare Bruce Johnston to Brian Wilson. I mean, you can, but its pointless.

The nearest Faraway Place is up with some of Brian’s instromentals

Really surprised you like that one

I think KTSA is a decent record, and has some actual nice songs on it (“Some of Your Love”, “Sunshine”, “When Girls Get Together”), but I do not like the song “Endless Harmony” - it doesn’t sound like an authentic BB track to me.

See I’m the kind of guy who thinks “Johnny Carson, he’s a real live wire” is a great lyric, but “and we sang God Bless America / it’s the land where we tour” makes me cringe.

You can't compare Bruce Johnston to Brian Wilson. I mean, you can, but its pointless.